February  19,  1903.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
109 
Societies. 
BirmiDgtiam  Gardeners'. 
There  was  a  good  attendance  of  the  members  at  the  recent 
meeting  to  hear  Mr.  R.  J.  Hamdl,  manager  of  The  Vineries, 
Acocks  Green,  discourse  upon  “  The  Arrangement  of  Plants  and 
Cut  Flowers  for  House  Decoration.”  The  subject  was  dealt 
wdth,  with  much  acumen  and  appreciation  of  the  artistic  arrange¬ 
ments  in  consonance  with  the  canons  of  good  taste.  In  the  selec¬ 
tion  of  cut  flowers  the  lecturer  advised  the  propriety  of  securing 
such  as  Chrysanthemums  and  Roses,  Ac.,  with  as  long  stems  as 
possible,  even  froin  2ft  to  3ft  long,  and  with  their  foliage  attached 
— a  desideratum  greatly  in  vogue  in  New  York  and  other  Ameri¬ 
can  towns.  The  chairman  (Mr.  Walter  Jones)  fully  endorsed  the 
major  portion  of  the  lecturer’s  practical  views  and  sentiments, 
followed  also  by  considerable  interesting  information  and  expres¬ 
sion  of  opinion  by  Messrs.  A.  Ciwer,  C.  H.  Herbert,  W.  L. 
Deedman,  and  W.  Gardiner.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
accorded  the  lecturer.  Mr.  H.  Thick,  gardener  to  W.  Bott,  Esq., 
Acocks  Green,  was  awarded  a  cultural  certificate  for  a  plant  of 
Cymbidium  pendulum  bearing  two  spikes  of  slightly-scented, 
richly-colouretl  flowers.  The  annual  social  gathering  took  place 
at  the  Colonnade  Hotel,  when  upwards  of  eighty  of  the  members 
and  friends  partook  of  an  excellent  tea,  supplemented  by  the  cus¬ 
tomary  toasts,  songs,  recitations,  and  music ;  the  lady  artistes 
especially  acquitted  themselves  with  jnuch  eclat.  The  proceed¬ 
ings  of  the  evening  were  efficiently  presided  over  by  Mr.  Walter 
Jones. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  subscribers  to  this  Fund  was 
held  at  the  Cannon  Street  Hotel,  London,  E.C.,  on  Fiuday,  Feb¬ 
ruary  13,  under  the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Dyson’s  Lane 
Nursery,  Upper  Edmonton.  The  preliminary  business  having 
been  disposed  of,  the  chairman  proposed  the  adoption  of  the  re¬ 
port,  Dr.  Masters  seconding,  and  which  was  agreed  to  unani¬ 
mously. 
Mr.  May  stated  that  the  subscriptions  had  been  less  this  year 
than  usual,  probably  because  twenty-four  candidates  w'ere  elected 
without  having  to  be  selected  by  a  poll,  but  subscribers  should 
bear  in  mind  that  this  was  because  twenty  orphans  retire  from 
the  benefits  of  the  Fund  this  year,  and  their  moneys  were  still  as 
(much  required  as  ever. 
In  answer  to  a  question  from  Mr.  W.  Marshall,  the  secretary 
.said  that  there  were  really  six  additions  made  to  the  Fund  at  this 
election,  but  two  of  these  would  be  off  in  a  few  months,  and  they 
had  been  elected  in  order  that  they  might  be  qualified  for  benefits 
under  another  section.  The  chairman  remarked  that  the  elec¬ 
tion  of  the  present  candidates  increased  the  number  on  the  Funds 
to  ninety-seven,  the  largest  number  ever  provided  for.  The 
chairman’s  proposition  for  their  election  was  seconded  by  Sir 
John  T.  D.  Llewelyn,  and  agreed  to  by  the  meeting. 
^Ir.  May  als-o  proposed  an  alteration  to  Rule  XIII.,  by  insert¬ 
ing  in  line  seven,  after  the  word  “fourteen  years”:  “  Biit  the 
committee  may  at  their  discretion  in  exceptional  circumstances, 
extend  the  usual  allowance  for  a  further  period  not  exceeding  two 
years.”  He  said  that  the  committee  had  often  felt  how  necessary 
it  was  to  have  the  power  to  grant  just  a  little  extra  aid  to  a 
delicate  girl  or  youth  as  they  were  about  to  enter  upon  life’s  work. 
And  Mr.  W.  Fromow,  who  seconded,  also  drew  attention  to  the 
struggles  and  difficulties  of  very  delicate  children  who'  must  gain 
their  livelihood  at  fourteen  years  of  age.  The  proposition  was 
heartily  supported  by  Sir  John  Llewelyn,  Dr.  Masters,  and 
others.  Sir  John  spoke  of  widening  the  basis  of  the  Fund’s  use¬ 
fulness,  and  of  spreading  abroad  among  provincial  societies-  a 
knowledge  of  the  Fund’s  work,  and  referred  to  the  good  resiflts 
from  the  annual  dinner  celebration.  He  supported  the  alteration- 
^in  Rule  XIII.,  Avhich  was  unanimously  confirmed. 
The  following  elections  were  then  made; — Leopold  de  Roth¬ 
schild,  Esq.,  as  vice-president  ;  proposed  by  Mr.  R.  Dean,  V.M.H., 
seconded  by  Mr.  Wm.  Cutbush.  Mr.  N.  N.  Shenvood,  as 
treasurer;  proposed  by  Mr.  W.  Bates,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  W.’ 
Roupell.  Mr.  P.  Rudolph  Barr,  as  auditor;  proposed  by  Mr.  W. 
Howe,  seconded  by  Mr.  George  Cuthbert.  The  retiring  members, 
of  committee,  except  Mr.  Weeks,  who  wished  to  re.scind,  and 
whose  place  was  filled  by  Mr.  G.  C’astleton,  of  the  Cry.stal  Palace- 
Garden.s — pro-posed  by  Mr.  Roupell,  seconded  by  Mr.  W.  FromoAV.: 
On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Alex.  Dean,  seconded  by  Mr.  J.  A.ssbec, 
Mr.  Weeks  Avas  elected  a  Auce-president  in  recognition  of  liLs  Avork' 
for  the  Fund.  Mr.  Brian  Wynne  Avas  reappointed  .secretai’y  in 
the  .status  as  heretofore,  on  the  proposition  of  the  chairman,  Avho 
AA-urmly  complimented  Mr.  Wynne-.  This  Avas  ably  seconded  by- 
Mr.  T.  W.  Saunders,  F.L.S. 
As  ex-chairman  of  the  Fund  (Avhich  position  he  maintained 
during  ten  years),  Mr.  Wm.  Marshall  propo-sed  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Avho  at  all  times  is  .so  ready  to  do  Avhatever  he 
can  to  help  the  gardeners’  orphans.  Mr.  J.  Assbee  .seconded,  and 
the  meeting  responded  Avith  acclamation. 
Names  of  the  Children  Elected. 
Second  Application. — Evelyn  P.  Cherry,  Lilian  M.  Francis,- 
Walter  Gregg,  Williamina  Hendry. 
First  Application. — Ed.  G.  Arnold,  Florence  M.  Banni.ster, 
Jno.  CraAvford,  Jos.  Cutts,  Eliza  Ann  Fuller,  Ethel  M.  Gartell, 
Edith  A.  Hollo'Avay,  Dora  E.  Jame.s,  Wilhelmina  LaAvson,  Alice  R. 
Lovelock,  Fred  H.  Lovelock,  Alex.  D.  Maegregor,  Wini.  C.  R. 
0.sman,  Elsie  Peckitt,  Florence  K.  Riddle,  Lydia  G.  Riddle, 
Jno.  Henry  Rous,  Wm.  G.  Rous,  Frank  J.  Sparkes,  and  Her¬ 
bert  Chas.  Stockley.  These  are  gardeners’  orphan  children  from- 
various  parts  of  England,  including  tAvo  from  Scotland. 
Report  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  Statement  op 
Accounts  for  the  Year  Ending  December  31,  1902. 
The  presentation  of  their  fifteenth  annual  report  enables  the 
Executive  Committee  to  again  offer  their  congratulations 
FICUS  REPENS. 
The  genus  Ficus  contains  some 
species  aa  hose  productions  in  one 
form  or  another  are  of  very  great 
benefit  to  mankind.  TAventy-three 
columns  of  the  “  Index  Kewensis,” 
each  O.jin  long,  are  occupied  AAuth  the 
names  and  synonyms  of  Fieu.s,  shoAV- 
ing  to  Avhat  extent  confu.sion  exists, 
and  ahso  emphasising  the  fact  that 
the  genus  is  a  large  one.  Our  pre^- 
,sent  space  being  limited  to  these  fcAV 
lines,  AA’e  must  be  content  to  Avrite 
of  the  subject  before  us.  Ficus' 
repens  of  gardens  is  Avell  known. 
Botanically  it  is  F.  puniila,  or, 
again,  with  other  authorities,  F. 
stipulata.  No  gardener  doubts  its 
value  as  an  edging  plant  in  .stoves, 
or  as  a  subject  for  covering  Avails 
and  the  stones  of  indoor  rockeries. 
References  both  to  Lindley’s  “  Trea- 
sTiry  of  Botany  ”  and  Hogg’s 
“Yegetable  Kingdom  ”  have  failed 
to  discover  any  economic  use  for  F. 
repens,  Hort.,  beyond  the  orna¬ 
mental.  The  fruiting  branch, 
sketched  by  Mr.  J.  Harrison  Dick, 
Avas  sent  from  Rood  Ashton  Gardens 
by  Mr.  W.  Strugnell.  Kept  .sheared 
as  this  plant  usually  is,  there  is  no 
chance  of  fruit  forming,  but  if  a  tAvig 
can  get  through  a  ventilator,  or  if 
it  is  alloAved  to  groAV  Avithout  being 
pruned,  in  due  course  fruit  may  be 
c::;p:c‘ed. 
I 
Fruiting  branch  of  Ficus  repens,  Hort.,  J  reduced. 
